Smelting.



No. 897,993. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908.

A. RVMGKENZIE.

SMELTING.

APPLICATION FILED DBO.5,1907.

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ALEXANDER R. MCKENZIE, OF GREAT FALLS, MONTANA.

SMELTIN G.

Application filed December 5, 1907.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, ALEXANDER R. Mc- KENziE, of Great Falls, in thecounty of Gascade and State of Montana, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Smelting and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention relates to improvements in smelting and more particularlyto the smelting of comminuted ore, such for example as flue dust,oneobject of the invention being to avoid the molding of fine ore or fluedust into the form of briquets and the expense in cident thereto.

A further object is to utilize the heat of the slag and matte as itpasses from a blast furnace to a settling tank, in the smelting of fineore, such as flue dust.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel stepsin a smelting process as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the'claims.

The accompanying drawing is a view in section illustrating oneembodiment of an apparatus with which my improved process may be carriedinto effect.

While various forms of mechanical devices might be utilized in effectingthe steps of the process, I have found that an apparatus, such asillustrated in the drawing, will subserve the purposes of my invention.This apparatus I will now describe in detail.

1 represents a blast furnace which may be of any preferred form ofconstruction and provided with the various appurtenances necessary forthe operation of the furnace in smelting ore. The apparatus may also beprovided with a chamber 2 communicating with the flues for containingaccumulations of flue dust. The bottom of the furnace is provided with aspout 3, by means of which the slag and matte will be discharged into asuitable settler or settling tank 4,the matte which settles in thebottom of this tank being drawn off in the usual manner. Provision isalso made for the drawing ofl of the slag.

In accordance with my invention, the finely divided ore or flue dust isfed to the stream of slag and matte as the latter flows from the spout 3into the settler. A convenient means for accomplishing this, consists ofa hopper 5 for the reception of the flue dust,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8, 1908.

Serial No. 405,221.

the lower end of this hopper terminating in a contracted spout 6, sodisposed as to discharge the flue dust directly into the stream of slagand matte flowing into the settler. In order to regulate the feeding ofthe flue dust, the contracted lower portion of the hopper is providedwith a suitable valve 7.

Flue dust, being fine and dry, is in proper form for smelting and as itis self-fluxing, it will generate heat in the settler. As the flue dustis fed to the slag and matte during the flow of the latter from thespout of the blast furnace to the settler, it will pass with said slagand matte into the body of molten slag under the slag crust indicated at8 on the drawing. The heat of the slag and matte flowing from thefurnace and the self-fluxing quality of the flue dust will be utilizedin causing the smelting of the latter in the settling tank,the metal inthe flue dust being precipitated with the metal or matte which has beensmelted in the furnace and conducted to the settler.

From two to five per cent. of the contents of a charge of ore to thefurnace, goes out to the dust chamber as flue dust. With my improvementsall of this flue dust can be dropped into the stream of matte and slagfrom the furnace to the settler and smelted without the need of anyadded fuel.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Lettors-Patent, is,-

1. The herein described smelting process, consisting in discharging slagand matte from a furnace to a settler, and discharging fine ore into thestream of slag and matte as tlie same flows from the furnace to the setter.

2. The herein described process, consisting in mixing fine ore withmolten slag and matte issuing from a smelting apparatus. v

3. The-herein described process, consisting in discharging molten slagand matte downwardly into a settler. and discharging fine ore into saiddownwardly flowing stream of molten slag and matte, whereby said fineore will be carried by said stream into the body of molten slag andmatte in the settler.

4. The herein described process, consisting in discharging flue dustwith molten slag and matte into a receptacle and smelting the flue dustin said rece tacle.

. 5. The herein described process, consisting in smelting a body of orein a furnace, dis

Q s97,99s

charging the molten sla and matte from said furnace to a receptac e,discharging flue dust or fine ore With the slag and matte into said recetacle and utilizing the heat of said 5 molten slag and matte and theself-filming quality of the flue dust to smelt the latter in saidreceptacle.

Iii testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER R. MCKENZIE.

Witnesses:

DUNCAN M. GILLIs, ROGERS W. BERRY.

